loosened; loosening
ˈlü-sᵊn-iŋ 
ˈlüs-niŋ
1
: to release from restraint
2
: to make looser
loosened his tie
loosen a screw
3
: to relieve (the bowels) of constipation
4
: to cause or permit to become less strict
—often used with up
loosened the rules
: to become loose or looser
Examples of loosen in a Sentence
He used a spade to loosen the soil.
She loosened the cake from the sides of the pan.
After eating so much I had to loosen my belt.
When the meeting was over he loosened his tie.
One of the screws had loosened a bit and had to be tightened.
Each generation seems to loosen the established standards of behavior.
Standards of behavior seem to be loosening everywhere.
Recent Examples on the Web
Today, Chinese automakers have become a formidable force, coming a long way to loosen the stranglehold that Western and Japanese automakers once had on the automotive sector.
—
Sarwant Singh, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024
Wait a minute or so to allow to butter to loosen slightly from the plastic mold, and then carefully twist the plastic mold until the sculpture dislodges.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appétit, 26 Nov. 2024
Because some foods can cause the lower esophageal sphincter to loosen, avoiding them should help.
—Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 25 Nov. 2024
Davis was able to hop on the exercise bike to loosen his knee up but did not return to the game.
—Colton Pouncy, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for loosen 
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Cite this Entry
“Loosen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loosen. Accessed 13 Dec. 2024.
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